CPL Theory Self-Study

[BlueTeamHacker]

Hi,

First time poster (since leaving the forum almost a decade ago now!). Back then I was an aspiring ATCO - much has happened since leaving NATS. Anyway...

I am doing some dream building, and was wondering what options there were for me to do my CPL theory. I work full time in a non-aviation industry and earn a good salary. I won't be doing any ground school courses to do the theory, but I have heard that many people do self-study. I cannot find any resources for this, though. Could someone please point me to any book sets which cover the CPL theory required to pass the exams>

[VariablePitchP]

Just to check you actually mean the CPL exams and not the ATPLs? Are you aiming to fly commercially using the licence rather than just the odd bit of ferrying etc? Whilst yes you do only need a CPL to get into an Airbus, in reality you’ll need ATPL exam credits. Because of this 99% of people just do the 14 ATPL exams and because of that 99% of the courses will be ATPL not CPL.

Just had a quick google and most of the usual places (Bristol etc) only do ATPL courses. There’s one or two that will do CPL exams but they seem to be ran as a bit of an add on to their normal ATPL courses.

[BlueTeamHacker]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I mean CPL exams. I'm not aim to fly for the airlines, so yes just a little ferrying and when I retire for the corporate world I'll look to do CFI for a few years. I understand that ATPL is about 50% more theory - which I can tolerate I guess, but would rather not if I didn't have to. Based on what you have said, am I right in thinking that if I got my ATPL then I could also do ferrying and instructing outside of the airlines?

[paco]

If you intend doing an IR it is more convenient to do the ATP anyway. If you plan to instruct, you only need CPL theory, not the licence to do PPL. We run specific CPL courses.

[redsnail]

As Paco said, if you're looking at an Instrument Rating, you may as well do the ATPL exams. When planning, just keep an eye on the exam expiry dates. :)

[Field Required]

If you're gonna do any ferry flying you will want an IR...

[BlueTeamHacker]

Ok, thanks all for the help. I think I have a path now.

[Dan Dare]

As an ATCO course veteran you should not find much of the CPL/ATPL a self-study challenge , but I would recommend the investment of a week brush-up course where you will learn as much about the way the examiners think and elephant traps set by them as you learn about the subject matter.

[VariablePitchP]

Just to add - LEARN THE BANK

[BlueTeamHacker]

Ok, great - that's good to know. I thought there would be considerable overlap with that, but nice to hear it confirmed - thanks!

[BlueTeamHacker]

Ok, will do - thanks! But I have heard that a lot of the questions have changed recently?

[Jamie2009]

Its all on YouTube

[Charlie Zulu]

It isn’t all on YouTube as those videos were copyright material of CAE and have been pulled down. Also, please do not just learn the banks as was suggested above, yes they help enormously but you do need to know the material. Most important thing to remember is RTFQ. I’ll vouch for CAPT as I did my CPL exams last year with them. In hindsight I should have done the ATPL exams as I am now studying for the CBIR exams, decided in lockdown to gain a full SEIR as well as an FI.